Heartburn(Acid Reflux)

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

Bhupinder S. Anand, MBBS, MD, DPHIL (OXON)

Dr. Anand received MBBS degree from Medical College Amritsar, University of Punjab. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Postgraduate Institute of medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He was trained in the field of Gastroenterology and obtained the DPhil degree. Dr. Anand is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Heartburn definition

Heartburn is a sensation of burning in the chest caused by stomach acid
backing up into the esophagus (food pipe). The burning is usually in the upper
and central part of the chest, just behind the sternum (breast bone). The
burning can worsen or can be brought on by lying flat or on the right side.
Pregnancy tends to aggravate heartburn.

Many people experience heartburn and there are a large number of
over-the-counter (OTC) medications and home remedies available to treat heartburn or
the symptoms of heartburn.

In most cases you will not need to see a health care professional, except if the
symptoms are frequent (several times a week ) or severe.

If heartburn is severe or the pain is accompanied with additional symptoms
such as shortness of breath, radiation into your arms or neck, you will need to
see a doctor to distinguish these symptoms from more serious medical conditions
such as a heart attack.

GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a chronic and more serious form of
heartburn.

If your heartburn symptoms occur more than twice a week you should see your
health care professional to make sure no serious problems are present.

What causes heartburn?

The esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to the stomach) has a tight
band of muscles at the lower end (lower esophageal sphincter [LES]) that closes after
the food enters the stomach and prevents the stomach contents to reenter the
esophagus. If this sphincter weakens or relaxes at the wrong time, stomach acid
can back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

Heartburn and Pregnancy

Linda was 7 months pregnant and the heartburn was overwhelming. To her, it
seemed constant. She couldn't lie down at night. The discomfort of her bulging
belly was nothing in comparison.

Linda has a lot of company. Heartburn (a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux
disease or GERD) occurs in 17% to 45% of all pregnant women. It
usually begins in the first or second trimester of pregnancy and continues
throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Fortunately, the heartburn is usually
mild and intermittent, but frequently enough, it is troublesome or severe.